Passo Gardena - Rifugio Pisciadu (Via Ferrata Brigata Tridentina)

Access to starting point:
A) From Kranjska Gora over Korensko sedlo to Austria, where at the first larger crossroad, we continue left towards Podklošter / Arnoldstein and Trbiž / Tarvisio. At the end of the settlement Podklošter signs for Šmohor / Hermagor point us to the right on a regional road, on which past the mentioned settlement we drive to the end of the valley Gailtal, or more precisely to the settlement Kötschach-Mauthen, where we turn right towards the settlement Oberdrauburg. The path ahead leads us over an Alpine mountain pass Gailbergsattel (982 m), after which we descend into the mentioned settlement. After we cross the bridge over the river Drau, we continue left towards the settlement Lienz. In the main roundabout in Lienz we continue "left" in the direction of the settlement Sillian and Italy. Further, we cross the border between Austria and Italy, and we follow the main road past settlements Dobbiaco / Toblach, Villabassa / Niederdorf, Monguelfo - Tesido / Welsberg - Taisten, Brunico / Bruneck. Only a little after the last-mentioned settlement, past which leads a bypass road, we turn left into the Alta Badia valley. Further, we drive through the mentioned valley and in the settlement La Villa we turn right towards the mountain pass Passo Gardena. Further, we follow an ascending road to a large parking lot some turns before the mountain pass Passo Gardena. At the parking lot is also a big sign with the caption »Via Ferrata – Klettersteig«.
B) From Nova Gorica, we drive to Italy and drive forward on the highway to the settlement Portogruaro, where at the highway junction we turn in the direction of the settlement Belluno. We follow the highway to its end (we don't turn in the direction towards Belluno), and then we continue driving towards Cortina d'Ampezzo. When we get to Cortina d'Ampezzo, we follow the signs for the Alpine mountain pass Passo Falzarego. On the mountain pass Passo Falzarego (2105 m) we turn right in the direction of Alta Badia and first ascend to the neighbouring mountain pass Passo Valparola (2192 m), from there we descend into the mentioned valley. In the settlement La Villa we turn left towards the mountain pass Passo Gardena. Further, we follow an ascending road to a large parking lot some turns before the mountain pass Passo Gardena. At the parking lot is also a big sign with the caption »Via Ferrata – Klettersteig«.

Route description:
From the parking lot, we go left following the signs »Via Ferrata Tridentina«. The path at first crosses the slope towards the east and runs mostly among dwarf pines and rare larches. The path, which also slightly descends, soon brings us to the beginning of the secured path.
The secured path at the beginning steeply ascends with the help of pegs, and then ascends for some time along the steel cable on usually wet terrain upwards. Next follows a shorter ascent on pegs, and then we come to gentler slopes. The path then leads us past large boulders and brings us to a junction.
At the junction, we continue slightly left following the signs »Pisciadu Via Ferrata«. After that, the path crosses slopes towards the south and in front of us we will soon notice a waterfall. Soon we come again to a junction and continue right towards the waterfall following the signs »Pisciadu Via Ferrata«.
Right of the waterfall we again enter the wall and start to steeply ascend on the secured path Via Ferrata Brigata Tridentina. The path is further very well secured and ascends all the time right of the wide gully through which runs a stream with numerous waterfalls. From the path we have all the time wonderful views of the precipitous walls of surrounding peaks and downwards towards the settlement Colfosco and Alta Badia.
The secured path later turns a little to the left and brings us to a junction. Left we can leave the secured path and ascend on easier terrain towards the hut Pisciadu. Right we continue on the secured path, which ascends on the walls of the tower Torre Exner. The path in this part becomes even a little more demanding and during the ascent some strength in the arms is also needed. The path ascends vertically a few times, and pegs and a shorter ladder help us. Higher the path crosses the wall to the left and brings us to a hanging bridge. From the bridge only a short ascent along the steel cable follows, after which the secured path ends.
The panoramic path further turns a little to the left and follows an undemanding ascent to the hut Rifugio Pisciadu.
We descend right on path 666 back towards the starting point. The path on which we descend is in the upper part also secured with a steel cable.
The described path is otherwise one of the most popular secured paths in the Dolomites. To avoid crowds on the path, it is recommended to start the tour very early.

The trip can be extended to the following destinations: Rifugio Boe, Cima Pisciadu, Piz Boe

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